500 Series lunchbox .. educate me!

[watermelon]

Just really started thinking about this setup.
In a small office/Studio.. it seems to me like a no brainier

I mean I'm about to buy a Great River ME-1NV.

I can buy it in the 500 series version and a new API lunchbox for a couple hundred more.
But in the future, there a lots of 500 series goodies to add and it seems so nice space wise in a small setup

After the small extra cost it seems like a lot of pro's going with the luchbox setup
I must be missing the Con's
Would love to hear opinions

[boyinthebox]

No disrespect, but you will most likely find more than enough information regarding almost every aspect of the 500 series format if you search past threads. A search involving '500 Series' should give you weeks of reading pleasure, and more than enough information regarding your questions.

Cheers.

[staudio]

There are only two things wrong with a Lunchbox:

1) The 500 series is addictive and you spend all your money.

2) A Lunchbox can't be racked, but you could buy one of the rack units for a little extra $.

500 series is great! Who needs money?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by staudio

There are only two things wrong with a Lunchbox:

1) The 500 series is addictive and you spend all your money.

2) A Lunchbox can't be racked, but you could buy one of the rack units for a little extra $.

500 series is great! Who needs money?

You forgot

3) The internal power supply is not shielded and can cause additional noise in some modules.

4) The power supply can only deliver 800ma, so be mindful of this when deciding on what modules you fill it up with long term as there are some that are rated a lot higher than VPR alliance specs. ( shadow hills gama, Elixir, Avedis MA5) are just a few that come to mind.

All in all I think it's a great place to start.

[Klotzi]

Originally Posted by Brent

You forgot

3) The internal power supply is not shielded and can cause additional noise in some modules.

4) The power supply can only deliver 800ma, so be mindful of this when deciding on what modules you fill it up with long term as there are some that are rated a lot higher than VPR alliance specs. ( shadow hills gama, Elixir, Avedis MA5) are just a few that come to mind.

All in all I think it's a great place to start.

So do you think the BAE Lunchbox with an external power supply is a better choice?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by staudio

There are only two things wrong with a Lunchbox:

1) The 500 series is addictive and you spend all your money.

2) A Lunchbox can't be racked, but you could buy one of the rack units for a little extra $.

500 series is great! Who needs money?

Originally Posted by Klotzi

So do you think the BAE Lunchbox with an external power supply is a better choice?

Depends how portable you want to be I guess. If you don't mind carrying 2 things instead of one that would be a better option where noise is concerned.

I went with a 500V rack and chandler external supply, but I can see myself picking up a lunchbox in case I need to take the toys somewhere without the rack and patchbay

[staudio]

No noise or power problems here with the API 6B Lunchbox.
But it is true, you need to make sure you know the power requirements of your modules and plan accordingly.

[Kronos147]

There are limitations within the 500 specification too. Size and power, mostly. Compromises must be made in order to fit some products into a 500 series configuration.

The 'same' product in a rack has the advantage of it's very own power supply, more room for bigger transformers, bigger control panel, more options.

The downside to that is you have to pay for that power supply, (rather than 1 for six as in a lunchbox). The rack mounted gear is likely to take up more rack real estate.

I still am a firm believer in the 500 format though. 16 full slots now and planning for 16 more worth of rack/lunchbox space on the way.

[Inca]

Your wallet will keep getting sucked dry, but you will never regret the purchase. The best thing I ever did for my recordings. I went with the 8 space OSA with power supply and have had 0 issues.

The GR 500 pre kicks some serious ass! Go for it! It is addictive. I know what a crack addict feels like now. haha

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by Brent

4) The power supply can only deliver 800ma, so be mindful of this when deciding on what modules you fill it up with long term as there are some that are rated a lot higher than VPR alliance specs. ( shadow hills gama, Elixir, Avedis MA5) are just a few that come to mind.

1st post by Avedis, and further down the page Belmont has 6 MA5 in a rack, right below that Geoff Tanner does the math....

Avedis MA5 Who Has Them



Edit:
I just noticed you're all over that page too Brent.. With an email from API saying your good to go..

[Brent]

Originally Posted by drmmrboy

1st post by Avedis, and further down the page Belmont has 6 MA5 in a rack, right below that Geoff Tanner does the math....

Avedis MA5 Who Has Them



Edit:
I just noticed you're all over that page too Brent.. With an email from API saying your good to go..

Please read my post again. I said nothing about putting together a lunchbox full of MA5's and having a problem here. What I'm saying is for the OP to be AWARE that if they start combining units that have specs ABOVE the VPR rating, they could easily cross the threshold of what the lunchbox power supply provides. The MA5 is not the biggest culprit, but, it is in fact above the VPR spec. The point here is to be educated. Hell I own an MA5, I'm definitely not slamming it.

Another example, if you have a look at the Elixir page on the buzzaudio site, they recommend having only TWO Elixir's in a lunchbox for this very reason.

In this thread, Tim Farrant is good enough to explain some of the finer points in detail.

I hope that clears things up